Portable heater



March 14, 1933. w w SOMERSALL 1,900,956

PORTABLE HEATER Fi1ed April 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irventar; William WSomersai Z,

many Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM W.SOMERSALL, OF NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NEW ENGLAND PRESSEDSTEEL COMPANY, OF NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAB-SACHUSETTS PORTABLE HEATER Application filed April 2,

This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus, and moreparticularly to a moistening and heating device of portable type adaptedfor household use. It is well recognized that the abnormally dry air ofartificially heated rooms or apartments is a contributory cause oraugmenting factor in respiratory diseases. Moreover, physicists pointout on the one hand that the over-heating of a room or apartment is theimmediate cause of such abnormal dryness of the air, and on the otherhand, that the rapid evaporation of moisture from the skin surfaceresulting from such abnormal dryness of the air produces a sensation ofchilliness, apparently calling for even more heat. Thus, the drycondition of the air is not only detrimental to health, but is alsouneconomi'cal from the heating standpoint, since it makes themaintenance of abnormally high temperatures necessary for comfort.

While attempts have been made to install air moistening apparatus inpermanent heating systems, as well as to provide moistening devices, forexample, atomizers, independent of the heating systems, sucharrangements are usually expensive and in many situations whollyimpractical. Within recent years, portable electrical heaters have comeinto very general use, for example, for heating individual rooms, and assuch apparatus is commonly installed in a relatively small and enclosedspace, its operation tends rapidly to decrease the relative humidity ofthe air, so that the undesirable conditions arising from abnormaldryness are commonly associated with the use of such heaters.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device whichfunctions primarily as a heater and which is adapted for use in the sameway as the ordinary portable electric heaters now commonly employed, butwhich is so designed that the heat may be directed predominantly in onedirection or generally difl'used, as preferred, and so designed that itsprolonged operation need not substantially dry the air of the room nor,on the other hand, will the device spray or spatter moisture in itsvicinity.

A further object is to provide a portable 1932. Serial No. 602,707.

heating device of the aforesaid character which, while of simple andattractive desi n, lnexpensive to manufacture, and of desira leconstruction, is efiicient, reliable and quiet in operatlon. Furtherobjects will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is an elevationalview illustrating one embodiment of my improved apparatus, partly insection and with parts broken away;

I 11g.2 is a bottom view on a greatly reduced sca e;

Figs. 3 and 4: are top and side views, respectively, of the apparatuswhen tipped into horizontal position for use simply as a heater Fig. 5is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating modified andpreferredmeans for supporting the heating element and directing the heat radiatedtherefrom;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of cover;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view illustrating a desirable form of bracketfor supporting a heater in inclined position; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a heater disposed in inclined position.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose ofillustrationis of sheet metal construction and comprises an annular base1 supported by the legs 2 which may be of rubber or other suitablematerial. A cylindrical casing or drum 4 is mounted on the base and maybe secured thereto by any suitable means as, for example, a plurality ofthreaded pins or lugs 6 which are soldered or otherwise secured to thecasing and project through the base and engage nuts 7. Adjacent to itsupper and lower edges the casing is provided with a series ofcircumferentially spaced openings 8 and 9, respectively, the openings 8providing a peripheral outlet. Intermediate these series of openings thecasing preferably is provided with series of openings 10 and 11 and withhandles 13. Preferably, though not necessari y, each handle comprisesthe spaced projections or lugs 13 adapted, as hereinafter described, toconstitute legs to support the heater and keep it from rolling when insubstantially horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

A plurality of spaced brackets 12 are soldc'red'or otherwise secured tothe inner side 5 of the casing adjacent to the lower ends of theopenings 8. The brackets 12 provide a support for the concentricallydisposed flue,- designated generally by the numeral 14. The fluepreferab'. y comprises a vertically-extending upwardly tapered lowerportion 15 spaced from thebase and the vertical walls of the casing, anda frusto-conical upwardly flaring mouthpiece 16 fixed to the lower part15, the mouthpiece adjoining the outer casing 15 adjacent to the lowerends of the openings 8 and being secured to the brackets 12 by fasteningelements 17.

An electrical heating element, for example, a resistance coil 20, isarranged coaxially with the flue, preferably with the lower end of theelement disposed substantially atthe plane of the junction of themembers 15and 16. Preferably the coil 20 is wound upon an upwardlyflaring insulating core 20 of porcelain or the like so that theeffective diameter of the heating element increases from its lower endupwardly.

The heating elem'ent is carried by a support comprising bracket arms 21fixed to the member 15, and the heating element and its electricalconnections may be mounted on the support in any desired manner. If thee'ement be of relatively small capacity, it may have a plug of standardpattern adapted to fit a socket 22 (Fig. 1) carried by the supment isseated. In Fig. 5 the core of the heating element and the cup in whichit is seated are fixedly secured in position by a bolt 20 (properlyinsulated) which conveniently constitutes one terminal of the coil 20.

Pubular porcelain insulators I and 11 pass through openings in themember 15, and through these insulators the conducting wires lead to'theheating element, one wire being connected to the terminal bolt 20 andthe other passing through an opening in the cup 20 and being secured tothe other terminal of the core 20. The cup 2O preferably has a series ofopenings near its bottom to a'low air circulation so as to preventoverheating,

c3 and this cup is preferably of metal provided with a smooth vitreousenamel surface of a highly heat-resistant character and a good insulatorfor electricity. Since the surface of the cup is of insulating material,the cup acts as a guard or safety device to prevent.

coil from injuring the adjacent metallic parts or from passingdownwardly so as to injure the fan or motor disposed beneath it, and,furthermore, its ca acity to absorb the high frequency light ra iationsfrom the coil and to transform them into heat radiations makes thedevice very effective for heating the air current which passes upthrough the annular space between the cup 20 and the part 16 Moreover,this cup, by reason of its glossy surface, acts as a reflector to directheat from the coil upwardly against the water receptacle 40.

. A fan 25, disposed at the lower end of the flue, is mounted on theshaft of motor 26 which may be secured to any suitable support, such ascrossbar 27. Preferably the drum 4 has a bottom 28 provided with acentrol opening covered by a screen 28 (Fig. 2) or by a perforated plate28 (Fig. 7) extending across the bottom of the casing and not onlyprovides a guard for the fan, but also prevents paper and other articlesfrom being drawn into the flue when the fan is operating. Any suitableelectric connections may be provided for contro ling the heating elementand motor, either independently of each other or otherwise. tions hereinshown by way of example comprise the main power line 30, to which boththe heating element 20 and motor 26 are connected in parallel, and thetoggle switch 35 which is conveniently mounted on the casing and is inseries with the motor circuit to provide an independent control for themotor.

A removable water-containing receptacle 40 fits in the top of the casingand normally provides a closure for its open end. This receptacle is ofa substantially frusto-conical shape and relatively shallow,-its undersurface providing an extended area for heat transfer. The receptaclepreferably has a fluid-tight annular cover or rim 40 having the centralopening 40 for the escape of vapor, and is provided with radiallyextending hooks or lugs 42 which engage the upper end of the casing tosupport the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 1. As thus positioned, the.bottom of receptacle 40 is in close heat transfer relation to theheating coil 20 and cooperates with the mouthpiece 16 to rovide adivergent annular, upwardly sloping delivery passage 31 whichcommunicates with the peripheral outlet defined by the openings 8, theperipheral wall of the member 40 being preferably substantially parallelto the inclined wall of member 16. A cover 45, preferably ofanattractive and ornamental de- The particular connecsign, fits over theupper end of the casing 4, the cover having perforations at its centralpart, as shown at 46 (Fi 3) or 46 (Fig. 6), to permit the escape omoisture or vapor from the receptacle.

For supporting the heater in an upwardly inclined positiomas shown inFig. 8. I provide a folding leg 48 having a pair of pivot membersjournaled in bearing brackets 49 and 50, secured to the bottom 28 of theheater. This folding leg comprises a transverse member 51, normally heldagainst the bottom of the heater by a spring latch 52, but whichconstitutes a foot for supporting the heater when the leg is swung tothe position of Fig. 8,suitable stops 49, 50 being associated with thepivot members of the leg to limit its swinging movement.

In the normal operation of the apparatus the receptacle is keptpartially filled with water, to which may be added, if desired, asuitable perfume, volatile medicament, fumigant or deodorant. The majorportion of the air is drawn in through the bottom of the casing and theopenings 9, and a relatively small quantity is drawn in through theopenings 10 and 11. Thus a circulation is established through theannular chamber 47 between the casing and flue wall which prevents theaccumulation of dead air therein and overcomes any danger of overheatingeither the mouthpiece or casing. The air drawn into the flue risesthrough the annular channel surrounding the highly heated cup 20 whichradiates heat energy of less than luminous frequency well adapted toheat such moving air particles as do not receive heat by direct contactwith the hot surfaces. The

inner surface of the cup reflects heat upwardly against the under sideof the water receptacle 40, and the latter, as already noted, acts as adeflector for directing the air outwardly into the passage 31. Theheated air which is delivered through the openings 8 forms asubstantially conical annular stream. having its axis substantiallyvertical, and this flaring upwardly flowing stream creates a downwardlydirected current which strikes the top of the apparatus, picks up thevapor emitted from the receptacle, and then joining the outfiowingstream of heated air quickly disseminates the vapor.

When the fan is in motion it produces a swirling action in the airpassing up through the flue and outwardly through the passage 31 and theopenings '8, so that the air which emerges from the device tends todiffuse rapidly through the room in which the heater is placed. F

The receptacle 40 may be left empty or removed from the casing, and theapparatus used solely as a heater. If the receptacle be removed, theheated air is discharged axially through the opening end of the casing.When thus employed, the apparatus may be tipped horizontally or at anangle, if desire as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, respectivel the projectinglugs 13 of one handle or t e bracket 45, respectively, then-acting aslegs to hold the device in selected position and keep it from rolling,so that the air current may be delivered definitely in any desireddirection.

As suggested, the apparatus described may be use-d in the ordinary waymerely as a heater, the receptacle 40 being removed or left empty.Furthermore, if desired, the motor 26 may be left idle without cuttingoff the heat. On the other hand, to supply moisture to the air, it isonly necessary to place water in the receptacle 40, when, by reason ofthe large heating surface afforded, evaporation will take place, usuallyat a temperature below the boiling point, but in sufiicient quantity tomaintain the relative humidity in the room or apartment at a reasonablyhigh per cent. If during the use of the water receptacle, the heatershould be tipped accidentally, the deep rim 40 of the receptacleprevents the water from spilling from the latter.

As the apparatus is devoid of any mechanical atomizing means, there isno danger of spattering water so as to cause injury to surroundingobjects, and while the rate of evaporation is (omparatively low ascompared with mechanical atomizers, it'is sufiicient for ordinarypurposes. The apparatus thus provided is simple in construction and maybe built at relatively small cost, and sold at a price making itavailable to users who would not be able to-buy and install theelaborate air moistening devices which have heretofore been proposed.

WVhile I have shown and described certain wish it to be understood thatvarious changes in shape, proportion, and arrangement of parts, as wellas the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown anddescribed may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing having aninlet at its bottom, said casing being open at its upper end and havingopenings adjacent to said end providing a peripheral outlet, alongitudinally extending flue within said casing, said flue having aflaring mouthpiece arranged in cooperative relation with the open end ofsaid casing to provide an axial discharge, a heating element. disposedin the flue with its lower end adjacent to the small end of themouthpiece. a fan disposed adja'ent to the lower end of said flue, and aremovable dished member fitting within the top of said casing, saiddesirable embodiments of the invention, I 1 5 o livery passagecommunicating with said outlet to provide a peripheral discharge.

2. A device of the character described com-- I prising a cylindricalcasing having an inlet at its bottom, said casing bemg open at 1tsuphaving a flaring mouthpiece adjoining said casing in a plane adjacent'to said peripheral outlet and arranged to cooperate with the open upperend of said casing to provide an axial discharge, a heating elementdisposed within said flue, a fan disposed adjacent to the lower end ofsaid flue, and a removable dished member fitting within the top of saidcasing, said member normally providing a closure for said open end andcooperating with said mouthpiece to define a divergent annular deliverypassage comunicating with said outlet to provide a peripheral discharge.

3. A moistening. and heating device comprising a casing having an inletat its bottom and a plurality of spaced openings adjacent to its topproviding a peripheral outlet, a longitudinally extending flue withinsaid. casing, said flue having a flaring mouthpiece adjoining the casingadjacent to said outlet, a heating element within said flue, a fandisposed in the lower end of said flue, means shielding the fan from theheating element, and a water-containing receptacle disposed within thetop of said casing, the bottom of said receptacle projecting downwardlyin close heat transfer relation to said heating element and cooperatingwith said mouthpiece in providing a divergent annular delivery passagecommunicating with said peripheral outlet.

4. A moistening and heating device comprising a tubular casing having aninlet at its bottom and a plurality of spaced outlets adjacent to itstopprovidinga peripheral outlet, a longitudinally extending flue withinsaid casing, said flue having aflaring mouth piece adjoining said casingadjacent to said outlet, an electric heating element within said flue, afan disposed in the lower end of said flue, and a removablewater-containing receptacle disposed within the top of said casing, thebottom of said receptacle projecting downwardly in close heat transferrelation to said heating element and cooperating with said mouthpiece inproviding a divergent annular delivery passage communicating with saidperipheral outlet.

5. A moistening and heating device comprising'a cylindrical casinghaving an inlet at its bottom and a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced openings adjacent to its top providing a peripheral outlet, alongitudinally extending flue within said casing, said flue having aconcentric conical mouthpiece adjoining said casing adjacent to saidoutlet,- a frusto-conical cup of insulating material in the upper end ofsaid flue, a heating element within the cu a fan disposed in the lowerend of said ue, and a water-containing receptacle constituting a coverfor the top of said casing, said receptacle being frusto-conical shapedand projecting downwardly in close heat transfer relation to saidoutwardly in a substantially conical annular stream whose axis isvertical, and means alternatively operative to hold the casing insubstantially horizontal or inclined position, whereby, upon removal ofsaid cover, the air stream from the flue may be definitely directed;

7. A portable heater of the class described comprising a substantiallycylindrical casingnormally disposed with its axis substantiallyvertical, a screen at the lower end of the casing, a motor-driven fan inthe lower part of the casing, a flue within the casing ar'rangedtoreceive the air delivered by the fan, heating means within the flue, afluid receptacle in the upper part of the casing, the under surface ofthe receptacle cooperating with a portion of the flue to define anannular air passage, the receptacle having an opening in its top for theescape of vapor, and a cover for the casing having an opening throughwhich escaping vapor may pass.

8. A device of the character described comprising a casing having aninlet near its bottom and a peripheral outlet near its top, a concentricflue within said casing, said flue having an inverted frusto-conicalmouthpiece whose upper edge adjoins said casing adjacent to saidperipheral outlet, a cup fixed concentric with the flue adjacent to thelower end of said mouthpiece, an electrical heating coil within the cup,and a ,fan disposed in the lower part of the flue, and operative tocause air to flow upwardly through theannular space between the cup andmouthpiece, said cup having a vitreous reflecting surface.

9. A device of the character described comprising acasing having aninlet near its bottom and a peripheral outlet'near its top, a concentricflue within said casing, said flue having an inverted frusto-conicalmouthpiece whose upper edge adjoins said casing adjacent to saidperipheral outlet, a cup fixed concentric with the flue adjacent to thelower end of said mouthpiece, an electrical heating element within thecup, and means for causing air to flow upwardly through the annularspace between the cup and mouthpiece, said cup being of invertedfrusto-conical form and operative to convert light energy radiated fromthe heating element into heat radiations for warming the flowing air.

10. A device of the character described comprising a casing having aninlet near its bottom and a peripheral outlet near its top, a concentricflue within said casing, said flue having an inverted frusto-conicalmouthpiece whose upper edge adjoins said casing adjacent to saidperipheral outlet, a cup fixed within the flue adjacent to the lowerendof the mouthpiece, and an electrical heating element within the cup, thecup consisting of metal coated with a smooth surfaced heat resistantenamel, the cup being operative to reflect heat energy from the elementin an upward direction. V K

11. A device of the character described comprising a casing having aninlet near its bottom and a peripheral outlet near its top, a concentricflue within said casing, said flue having an inverted frusto-conicalmouthpiece, a cup disposed concentrically within the flue, an electricalheating element within the cup, and a fan disposed in the lower part ofthe flue and operative to cause air to flow upwardly along the outersurface of the cup, the cup being operative to shield the fan from thedirect heat of the heating element.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having'aninlet near its bottom and a peripheral outlet near its top, a concentricflue within said casing, said flue having aninverted frusto-conicalmouthpiece, a cup fixed within the flue adjacent to the lower end of themouthpiece, and a heating element within the cup, the inside at least ofthe cup being of electrical insulating material whereby to preventaccidental short circuiting of the heating current by accidental contactof the heating element with metallic parts of the apparatus.

Signed by me at Natick, Massachusetts, this thirtieth day of March 1932.

WILLIAM W. SOMERSALL.

